Good news for chocoholics: the treat preferred by millions all over the
world is good for you, according to American researchers at the University of
California. Chocolate contains substances called flavonoids that can help
maintain a healthy heart and good circulation. The researchers have discovered
that cocoa acts like aspirin and that eating a bar of chocolate has also been
shown to release endorphins in the body: these chemicals help to reduce pain and
stress and make you feel happy. The Olmec Indians of Mexico and
Central America were the first to grow cocoa beans, in aboutlS00 B.C., and the
Mayas were drinking unsweetened coca hundreds of years before it became
fashionable in Europe. In 1544, a delegation of Mayan nobles
visited Philip of Spain and gave him jars of cocoa as a gift. Cocoa soon became
fashionable in Spain and Portugal. The Spanish were the first to add sugar to
their cocoa drink. By the middle of the century, solid
chocolate was becoming familiar. In 1765, James Baker and John Hanan opened the
first chocolate mill in the United States, introducing chocolate to the average
citizen. In 1896, in Switzerland, Daniel Peter had the idea of adding milk in
the chocolate-making process and produced the first milk chocolate.
Since then, chocolate has grown enormously in popularity. One of the
biggest chocolate-eating nations is Britain where the average man, women, and
child eats nine kilos of chocolate a year. In fact, chocolate is the number one
comfort food and there are more chocoholics in Britain than any where else in
the world. Researchers warn that although chocolate is good for you, it should
be eaten in small quantities and with no added milk.
单选题
Why is chocolate good for heart and circulation?
A. It reduces pain and stress.
B. It contains substances called flavonoids.
C. It releases endorphins in human body.
D. It acts like aspirin to protect heart.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第一段内容“Chocolate contains substances called flavonoids that can help maintain a healthy heart and good circulation”可知，巧克力中含有一种叫类黄酮的物质，它能维护心脏的健康并促进血液循环，所以选B。
单选题
When cocoa was first introduced to Europe ______, it soon became
fashionable.
A. as a drink
B. as a gift
C. as food
D. as a medicine
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第三段内容“In 1544, a delegation of Mayan nobles visited Philip of Spain and gave him jars of cocoa as a gift.”可知，1544年，一个玛雅贵族代表团觐见西班牙国王菲利普时送给他一罐可可作为礼物，所以选B。
单选题
What does James Bakers and John Hanan do about chocolate?
A. They produce the first mild chocolate.
B. They introduce chocolate to Europe.
C. They add sugar to make chocolate bars.
D. They make chocolate accessible to average man.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第四段内容“In 1765，James Baker and John Hanan opened the first chocolate mill in the United States, introducing chocolate to the average citizen.”可知，1765年，James Baker和and John Hanan在美国开办了第一个巧克力作坊，将巧克力介绍给了普通人，所以选D。
单选题
Which is the following statement is not true according to the passage?
A. Chocolate contains substances that make people feel happy.
B. Chocolate is good for health if it is eaten with added milk.
C. Eating chocolate occasionally contributes to a healthy diet.
D. Chocolate is loved by millions of people worldwide.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 根据最后一段最后一句话“Researchers warn that although chocolate is good for you，it should be eaten in small quantities and with no added milk.”可知，研究者们警告虽然巧克力对我们有好处，应该少量食用而且不应另加牛奶，所以选B。
单选题
What is the author's tone about eating chocolates?